New sphygmomanometer to drive Microlife’s sales

Medical device maker Microlife Corp (百略) yesterday said revenue would rise by 4 to 5 percent this year from last year on expectations of higher sales of its new sphygmomanometers.

The company aims to increase shipments of its new sphygmomanometers, launched in the middle of last year, by 30 percent this year from 250,000 units last year, vice president Edith Huang (黃雅絹) said.

The new product is priced at NT$4,500 (US$149) per unit, compared with NT$2,000 per unit for previous models, Huang said, adding that its gross margin is estimated to be 10 percent higher than earlier versions.

The new machine can measure blood pressure three times and calculate the average, Huang said. It can also test whether a patient has atrial fibrillation, which may lead to myocardial infarction and stroke, he said.

Microlife made the remarks after a ceremony where the company donated 1,000 new sphygmomanometers to 30 local hospitals yesterday.

The company also produces medical thermometers and electric blankets.

The company has set up 24 service points at local drug stores and medical device shops, where people can use its new sphygmomanometers for free. It plans to raise the number of service points to 100 around the nation by the end of this year, Huang said.

“Many Taiwanese still do not recognize the danger of atrial fibrillation, and we believe our new product can help prevent stroke and myocardial infarction,” Huang said.

Microlife sold about 5 million sphygmomanometers a year, accounting for 60 percent of its total revenue, he said.

Last year, the company reported revenue of NT$6.28 billion, up 9.6 percent from NT$5.73 billion a year ago, according to the company’s filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

The US and Europe each accounted for 40 percent of its revenue last year, while Asia contributed 20 percent, Huang said.

Last quarter, Microlife saw revenue increase 4.53 percent to NT$967.15 million from NT$925.22 million the previous year.

Huang said the company’s revenue is expected to rise sequentially this quarter and next quarter, but would decline slightly in the fourth quarter.

The company posted a stronger performance in the second half of last year because it started to sell electric blankets in the third quarter, Huang said.